Heavy Hitters

Game Changers #3

by Mike Lupica

Mike Lupica presents the third book in his NEW YORK TIMES bestselling Game Changers series! Ben and his friends, the Core Four Plus One, are so excited to play in their town's All-Star Baseball league. But in the first game of the season Ben gets hit by a pitch. It's never happened to him before and it shakes him up.Another player on Ben's team, Justin, is acting really weirdly. Ben's known Justin for a while and they're friendly but he's not one of Ben's closest "boys." Justin is the team's best hitter but his behavior on and off the field is erratic. Ben discovers that Justin's parents are getting a divorce and Justin is thinking about quitting the team. Like good teammates do, Justin helps Ben deal with his issues at bat while Ben is there for his friend while his family is struggling.

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Friendship, Childrens, Middle Grade

219 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2014

About the author

Michael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Game Changers trilogy concludes the way it began, with the Core Four (now the Core Four Plus One) of Ben McBain, Sam Brown, Coop Manley, Lily Wyatt, and Shawn O'Brien combining their formidable talents for a run at the league championship, this time in baseball. As outstanding as the boys proved to be in football—Ben quarterbacking the Rockwell Rams to the title on a Hail Mary touchdown pass in the waning seconds of the final game—and basketball—the Rams coming up just short of the championship contest because Sam badly sprained his ankle and missed the majority of the season, but Ben creating redemption of a sort by sinking the last shot and ending Darby's bid for an undefeated campaign—the challenge before them now is to make a similar run in baseball. The Rockwell Rams are loaded: Ben's quick bat, speed on the basepaths, and electric closer's arm; Sam's five-tool proficiency, making him a threat every moment he's on the field; Coop's capable game management and durability as catcher; Shawn's pitching and potent offense, leveraging his size and strength to dominate opposing teams. The Rams' best player of all may be Justin Bard, an offensive juggernaut who jacks home runs at a frantic rate, tape measure shots that leave everyone in awe of his preternatural hitting talent. But the season is guaranteed to present challenges as the Rams bid to replicate their football success, and some of those challenges come courtesy of rivals from previous Game Changers books. Chase Braggs of the Darby Knights is as good a base-ballist as Ben, and Robbie Burnett is an all-sport star who's going to have something say about the Rams contending for another championship. It's sure to be an unforgettable year, but for reasons even beyond the obvious.

Baseball season starts with unexpected slumps for Ben and Justin. Ben knows the reason for his own lackluster jump out of the gates: being hit by a scorching fastball from Robbie in game one has made him leery of the ball, subconsciously changing his hitting mechanics just enough to stymie his offensive production. His bat isn't completely silenced, but it's obvious not all is right with Ben's game, and he needs to correct the problem if the Rams are to keep pace. Justin's slow start is a mystery to Ben. The kid is usually a beast on the diamond, swinging the bat fearlessly in any count, an RBI machine that can't be subverted by anything but bases on balls. Now he's pressing, over-swinging, getting more frazzled with every failure at the plate, and Ben takes it on himself to find out why. The truth becomes evident after Ben bikes to Justin's house and discovers a For Sale sign in front of it. Justin's situation is worse than Ben feared: he's moving at the end of the school year, but his parents are also getting divorced. No wonder Justin has had trouble focusing on baseball.

Ben and Justin aren't tight friends, not like Ben and the other Core Four Plus One, but their baseball struggles bring them closer as they make a pact to help each other out. Isn't that how teammates demonstrate affection? While Justin cooks up ways to alleviate Ben's nagging fear of the pitched ball, Ben grafts Justin into activities with the Core Four Plus One, expanding to become the Core Four Plus Two. Ben always appreciated Justin's contribution to the Rams in any sport, but he's coming to see there's more to him than a jock hardwired to deliver in the clutch: he's a generous friend Ben wishes he'd gotten to know better before he was about to move away. As Ben and Justin find answers for their early struggles, the Rockwell Rams heat up, their pitchers dominating opposing lineups and their own batters slashing hits like the parade around the basepaths isn't ever going to end. Ben slams the door shut in the last inning every time, an automatic closer with zippy stuff even Chase Braggs and Robbie Burnett can't get a bat on, and the Rams edge closer to the title they crave. Justin's emotional difficulties may not be behind him, however, and when the team's ship enters choppy seas, he may get tossed overboard. Can Ben and the Rams survive a season of turbulence to round out sixth grade with championships in baseball and football? Or will the memory of baseball season be less spectacular, sweet for the heady thrill of pursuing a major goal as close friends rather than actually achieving that goal in the end?

"If you don't take the shot...you'll never know whether it would have gone in or not."

—Ben McBain, Heavy Hitters, P. 192

Mike Lupica crafts some of the best sports action of the series in this concluding volume. The pace is elegant and exciting at times, rivaling the best of Lupica's novels. Ben and his goodhearted posse never fail to appreciate the privilege of playing youth sports with friends, putting on the uniform and competing for real rewards while they're young enough to do so. We're reminded repeatedly that these seasons are priceless. Our few shining moments in sports may be the most exhilarating memories we ever make. "The best plays and the best moments, they got burned into your memory, and sometimes your heart, and you knew you'd never forget them." Winning and losing are a big part of that, but so much more enters the equation. Athletics are as complicated as any area of life, emotional and searing and gratifying to the depths of our awareness. At the professional level or on a local recreational team, sports leave a lasting mark on everyone who loves to play. Ben and his friends will carry that mark after their junior sports careers are through, whether or not they go on to play at higher levels. The chemistry of team is unlike any they'll ever know. It is the greatest blessing of sports.

Heavy Hitters isn't Mike Lupica's best novel, but it fits nicely with its predecessors in the series, Game Changers and Play Makers. Ben is a bona fide multi-sport star, and it's a pleasure to read about him working his in-game magic. He may be best as a closer in baseball, a little cyclone whose dominance on the mound strikes fear in every batter who digs in against him. When coach hands Ben the ball at the bottom of the final inning, it's over. But if we're highlighting the best athlete of the trilogy, that has to be Sam Brown. Sam's the guy I want attempting the game-winning catch in football, taking the last basketball shot, or at the plate in position to knock in the winning run. Sam is the personification of clutch. Each of Ben's friends contribute vitally to their team, and it's been fun reading about them. I almost wish there were additional Game Changers books so we could spend more time in their company. All the best to you, members of the Core Four Plus however many. You are winners to the end.

[Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was A Good Book. Explained A Lot About How To Be A Good Friend

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal response
I really like this book because it showed that you should never give up. It shows that you don't have to give up when you're down by a lot. It's very interesting how Ben helped Justin get his mind off of what was happening in his family life so he could play baseball.
Plot
Ben lives in town, and has four main friends, the Core Four. Their team won the football championship, and in basketball Sam got hurt so they didn't do well in that. Now it was baseball time ,and Ben is really excited for it. Ben's dad was the coach of the team this year. There first game that they played, Ben got up to the plate, and the pitcher hit him in the elbow with the ball. They ended up winning that game but Ben had to be out a few days because his arm got bruised. The next game, Justin was acting weird threw the whole game, and was mad. Ben decided to go to their house to see how he was doing, and saw that their house was for sale, and that his parents were getting a divorce. Ben couldn't believe it because their parents always got along. So that meant that Justin was moving to a new town, and that this would be his last season with them. The next game, justin got ejected for throwing a bat,and got suspended for a game. One of the last games of the regular season, Justin got mad after the pitcher hit Ben, and started to charge the pitcher's mound. Ben stopped him in time but Justin first got suspended for the rest of the season. Ben then went to the board of the baseball league and explained to him why Justin was acting like that, and the board let Justin play thru the playoffs. They made it to the championship game but they were losing 10-0 in the 4th inning. They ended up coming back to 10-9, and Justin was up. Justin hit it super far but it got caught after the other team jumped over the fence to catch it. Justin was still happy even though they lost.
Characterization
Ben was the main character, and he wanted to help Justin out to make it the best year before he leaves. Justin was another main character who gave up on baseball in the beginning but ended up doing really good after Ben helped him. Sam was a side character who was Ben's best friend, and a really good hitter.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to middle school, and high school students that likes baseball books and crazy endings. This book barely has any hard words in it, and it's long. I would also recommend this book to people that can remember multiple characters because there are a lot of characters in this book.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book club selection for the 5th grade book club I mentor. Without reading the previous books in the series, I feel like I was missing a connection with 'core four' of friends other than Ben, the main character. The rest of the group seemed interchangeable. I think the sections involving Ben and Justin (the 'plus one') were extremely well written and provided great discussion points for kids around that age (divorce, being there for your friends, etc). My primary challenge with this book is that it seemed like 50% of it was focused on actual baseball games the boys were playing. I wish the author had spent more time on the boy interacting with each other off the field.



Grade: 3/5

[Cameronpeacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

After completing this book,I really do enjoy the style that he writes. Mike Lupica is so successful in his writing because the way he uses words and put images in your head is absolutely amazing. The reason he uses so much imagery is because the target audience is from probably 10-16 years old, which means he paints a clear illustration for the reader. This helps explain the story and just add beautiful, descriptive details that everyone appreciates.
Also, Mike Lupica tends to use a lot of similes in his books. For example, he said,” The grass was as smooth as silk.” This helps him show the importance of how nice and smooth the grass is. This is just another way for him to paint an image in the reader's head.
The last literary device I found that Lupica uses were his use of hyperbole's. To start out the book, he was talking about how it was “as hot as fire” to show the struggle of playing baseball outside in summer. Another hyperbole I found was when he said, “it seemed like he threw harder than Aroldis Chapman.” Which is clearly a hyperbole because Aroldis Chapman throws the hardest in the MLB.
All of these literary devices contribute to make Mike Lupica an amazing author and I 100% would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good sports book. I would not recommend this book to anyone that does not have a basic understanding of baseball. If I had to relate this book to a movie, it would be The Sandlot. Because it has a similar plot, a bunch of best friends growing up playing baseball together and enjoying life. I have read this book and Heat by Lupica and out of both of those books, this one is my favorite.

[Rafael R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben and his 4 friends Shawn, Coop, Sam, and Justin. All play baseball, when baseball season starts Ben notices something weird about his friend Justin. He has been acting mad and frustrated when playing their baseball games.When Ben finally talks to him he tells him that his parents are getting divorced and that he is quitting the team. Ben doesn't want Justin to quit because he is one of the best hitters on the team and Ben wants him to play in the playoffs. Ben doesn't give up and decides to go talk to Justin's parents to see if he can change their minds. But its to late they've already made the decision. Would Ben change Justin's mind from quitting or would it be to late also? I think that people who like sports book would like this book. I also like this book because its really well written and i also like it because sports.

[Amadou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben is starting a new season of baseball. With him and the core four plus one they will do their best. But a player named Justin is having troubles. His parents are getting divorced and he is moving. He is trying to get his temper in check. But is having troubles doing so. Can Ben and the core four plus one help justin.

All in all this is okay I'd didn't love it but I didn't hate it. Ben is weird for a eleven year old he is acting like a sixteen year old. Justin is okay but he gets mad easily. But I guess that isn't his fault because his parents are getting divorced. But in the end I rate this book four out of five.

[Vidal Ovando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning,Spoilers!!!! What an awesome book.First of all, I love baseball so of course I like this story and it's pretty sad. The book is about a boy named Ben and he lives in a town called Rockwell.He loves baseball and he plays with his friends and they are in a group called "The Core Four Plus One" which consists of Coop,Sam,Shawn,Ben,and Lily as the plus one.Then,Ben stats to hang out with a kid named Justin on his baseball team,but little by little he sees Justin start to be more aggressive to his friends and Ben tries to help him out and wants to know what is going on?Will Ben help out a friend before the season is over?Rad this book to find out.

[Michael Carlson]

This book was great with a lot of ups and down for the main characters in Walton. I red this book on my flight to Fort Myers and it was a great way to read a great book and kill some time. This book was especially good when Justin started to feel better about his parents divorce with the help of Ben. The book had some sad parts like when Justin was crying to Ben about his parents getting a divorce.

[Nolan Habodasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a kid named Ben and and he is playing baseball with his friends and before the season started they were at the baseball diamond and they said that nothing is going to interfere with there season. I rated this a 4 out of 5 because it was very good but it took a little bit to get to the climax.

[Ethan Fritch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Game Changers is a great book. It is based around an inspiring of a boy named Ben and his baseball team. They have a chance to go the Little leauge world series. But they have to over come different internal and external conflicts. Over all i would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and i suggest you read it.

[GabrielB2020 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book. I loved it. It was funny but if you don't know baseball that well this is not the book for you. There is a lot of good twist and turns and it is very realistic.

[Connor Corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good but sad because it talks about is parents being discovered a lot. I like how his team came back and won from a 10-0 score.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with Cal.

[Ian Redstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the characters. Ben's friend who is on his summer baseball team is struggling with his family, Ben tries to help him through his problems on and of the field.

[Brody Carlson]

it was a good book

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response
I recently read the book Game Changers by Mike Lupica. I really enjoyed reading this book, as it dealt mostly with baseball which is my favorite sport to play. My favorite character in the book is Ben McBain. Ben may not be the best player on his baseball team, but he is by far the best teammate and friend to everyone else on the team. Ben has his core group of friends, but throughout the book, he deals with a teammate of his named Justin. I like how much effort Ben put into helping Justin, even when Justin is very off-putting and distant. The only part of the book I find a bit weird is how mature the kids seem, and how mature their view on things is. Ben acts like he is three or four times his age of eleven throughout most of the book. I think the author could have raised the ages of the characters to make the story seem more realistic.

Plot Summary
Ben and his group of friends are looking forward to a new baseball season where they expect their team to be very good. The season starts with Ben getting hit by a pitch for the first time in his life, causing him to have a hitch in his swing. Rockwell ends up losing their first game to the dismay of Ben and his friends. During the game, Justin strikes out twice and throws his bat up the first baseline after his final strikeout. This results in Justin getting suspended for the next game. Ben has to sit out the next game due to his wrist injury from getting hit by the pitch. Ben tries to be a friend to Justin, but Justin says he wants to be left alone. After multiple attempts to make plans with Justin, Ben finally gets him to go to the batting cages. Justin helps Ben fix his swing, despite how cold he previously acted towards Ben. Ben then finds out why Justin has been acting this way; his parents are getting a divorce and he has to move out of Rockwell. In their next game, a cocky pitcher hits Ben again, and this causes Justin to come out of the dugout and charge the mound. Ben stops Justin before he gets to the pitcher, but Justin is still suspended for the rest of the season. Ben goes to the league commissioner and pleads Justin’s case, and the commissioner agrees to let Justin come back to play in the playoffs. Rockwell ends up losing the championship game. However, Ben and his friends are okay with this, and so is Justin.

Characterization
Justin Bard grew a lot as a person throughout the book. In the beginning, he is cold and off-putting to his teammates, especially Ben who is the one trying to help him the most. Justin is dealing with his parents getting a divorce, and having to move away from his friends in Rockwell. It says a lot about his growth as a person that he is able to overcome these difficulties in his life.
The protagonist of this book is Ben McBain. Ben is always there for his friends and is a great teammate. The antagonist in this book would be Justin’s attitude and the league commissioner. Ben fights Justin’s attitude throughout the book until finally at the end Justin is happy to be playing baseball.

Setting
This book takes place in the small town of Rockwell in the present day. The book mainly takes place either at the baseball field or at one of the character’s houses in Rockwell. This setting impacts the storyline in many ways. Rockwell gives the story that small-town summer baseball feel, which I can relate to. The time this book takes place also affects the storyline, as the characters talk about modern-day baseball stars.

Thematic Connection
The theme I notice most throughout the book is friendship. Ben displays this theme the most in his interactions with Justin, but all the characters in the book genuinely care for each other. Friendship is also on display when Justin helps Ben fix his swing at the batting cages after being so cold to him.

Recommendation
I would recommend this book to boys above the age of 10. The reading material is easy to understand and I think most 10-year-olds would be able to understand the content. I don’t think girls can’t read this book, but I believe boys will connect with it better due to them playing baseball.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. The story mainly took place at baseball parks, Ben’s house, and Justin’s house. There were different baseball fields that Ben and his baseball team had to visit. The main characters were Ben and Justin. Justin was one of Ben’s teammates on his baseball team. Ben and his teammates are eleven and they play for their town All star baseball league. Ben and Justin are the main characters because they go through the most conflicts that they have to conquer. The minor characters are Lily, Sam, Shawn, and Coop. Lily was one of Ben’s closest friends. Sam, Shawn, and Coop are his other friends on their baseball team. Ben and his friends call themselves The core 4 plus one. I predict that there will be some conflicts including Ben’s baseball team, Lily, Justin, and Justin’s family.

2. Ben and his friends seem real because they are actual people playing in a All-star baseball league during summer. Ben seems real because he helped Justin with his parents divorce. Justin was going through a tough time and Ben was always there for him. Ben was willing to do anything for his friends so in my opinion he seemed real. Justin seemed real because he went through conflicts such as his parents getting a divorce and his baseball actions. Justin had to stay strong even though he would have to move from his friends. He seems real because his parents getting a divorce isn’t something new because people all over the world get divorces. He also got suspended for throwing his bat and attacking a pitcher on the mound so he had to gather and he get himself under control. Ben’s other friends didn’t go through many conflicts but they all had to help Ben talk to the manager of the All-Star baseball league to get Justin out of his suspension so that he could play in the championship game.

3. Ben and Justin in my mind look like ordinary boys wearing jeans and a plain shirt to school. When they play baseball they obviously wear their baseball uniform. For baseball, they wear cleats but at school I think they wear converse or vans. I think Sam, Shawn, and Coop probably wear the same thing Ben and Justin wear to school. I think they wear nice flannel shirts and jeans on game day to look nice. I think Lily is a ordinary girl who knows a lot about sports and likes to hangout with boys because she is a sports type of girl. I think she mostly hung out with boys because she always went to go cheer on Ben’s baseball team and because she would watch MLB baseball with the guys. I think Lily mostly wore jeans and shorts to school with a plain shirt. All the characters in Heavy Hitters all seem real in my opinion.

4. “A person is the strongest when they are traveling a tough road together with some of their best friends”. This quote is memorable because Justin went through tough times but he was even stronger after the conflicts because he was going through it with his best friends. This quotes kinda determines the theme because it Justin was the strongest when his friends were along his side when times got rough. I love this quote because when I go through tough times my friends are always along my side just like Justin’s friends. This quote tells me about Ben and his friends character by always being by his side even when his parents were getting a divorce.

5. Ben and his friends were doing their best to help Justin throughout his tough times so that shows me that were great and loyal friends to one another. Ben also helped Justin out by talking to the baseball league manager to get Justin’s suspension reduced so that he could play in the championship game. Ben and his teammates also helped Justin with his batting because with his parents getting divorced he suddenly got distracted and couldn't hit. Justin repaid Ben back by helping him not be scared of the baseball. Ben needed help with his focus of the ball because during his first game he got hit with a baseball for the first time. One night, Ben’s mom invited Justin and his mom over for dinner so they could hear why they had to move and Ben helped Justin by giving Justin’s mom other ideas so they wouldn't have to move. Ben’s actions tells me that he really didn’t want Justin to move and that he got closer with Justin. Justin’s actions tells me that he was willing to help Ben, to pay him back for all the effort Ben put in to help him.

6. I really liked this book because it had many lessons to it and it was really interesting. I would rate this book 10 out of 10 because it taught me a valuable lesson such as when a friend is going through a rough time, you should always do whatever you can to help them just like what Ben did. I also recommend if you like sports or baseball, you should definitely read this book. I liked this book because in the championship game, Ben’s team was down by 10 and they came back and something interesting and crazy happened. Justin was up to bat and it was 10 to 9 and they had 2 outs already and Justin hit the ball really far and it looked like it was a homerun but a player from the other team jumped over the fence to catch the ball and the game was over. Ben and Justin’s team lost but they still had a wonderful season.

7. I believe the theme of the book is if you get knocked down get back up and keep trying. I think not giving up is the theme because Ben and Justin never gave up even when Justin found out that his parents were getting a divorce. Ben also never gave up even when he got hit by a pitch and when he couldn’t hit well. Never giving up is an important theme because if you don’t give up you will be more successful in life. Justin also didn’t blame the loss in the championship on him because he did his best and even when the whole season was tough for all of them. I think the theme in the book is to not give up even when life gets hard.

[Saadiq M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heavy Hitter (Game Changers, #3)
5/5
In the book Game Changers: Heavy Hitters Ben gets hit in the arm while playing baseball and he is frightened at the plate for a long time. Another main character in the book was a person named Justin is making some harsh memories since he recently discovered that his folks are getting a separation and he is moving ceaselessly. Ben attempts to help Justin with his annoyance issues and Justin attempts to help Ben over come his dread of getting this show on the road with the ball.

What I discovered intriguing about this book was the setting data. I have likewise played Little League baseball and got this show on the road with a threw ball. I was frightened of getting this show on the road with the ball again as well. I loved the manner in which the children cooperated as a group to enable each other to out. I additionally loved the turns and turns in this story.

[HunterM · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ball went away from Robbie and slipped out of his hands and ben tried to get out of the way but was too late and the ball hit flesh in his left arm. After the game, he tries to pick up and bat and swing but the swelling hurts too much and can’t play baseball without doing anything that doesn't hurt. So ben decided to ice his arm until the swelling stops and his arm is back to normal to play baseball again. When the swelling stop he tries to play with his friend Lils with tennis balls but he can’t even seem to one far then on the last ball he bombed it way out into the center field. He starts to practice a lot more with Lils and gets his groove back because he has been gone all season and hasn't picked up a bat or a ball since the night it all went down. When he is able to play again it was near the end of the season and bunts one 2 strikes! The couch was screaming at him after the game saying “WHAT ARE YOU DOING BUNTING ONE 2 STRIKES YOU MUST BE INSANE!” Then Ben was a real ballplayer again and on the last game he beats Robbie the person who hit him.

This book was not the best booking in the world but is a good book if you are into baseball. I did not like this book because it did not have as many cliffhangers as I wanted. Games Changers are as much action pack as I like books but I don’t like books that are slow-moving books that a faster moving I enjoy more. I do not think you should read this book if you don't like slow-moving ones.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a ground ball come at you 2 out game with out. In the book Heavy Hitter by Mike Lupa. The main conflict is Ben, the main characters gets hit by a pitch and after he does not hit the same.Then the lesson is to never give up.
The Heavy Hitters fits in the contemporary realistic fiction genre because this can happen in real life in a real scenario. It is in this genre because I play baseball and the main character, Ben, plays baseball too. Another example is, Jasons, one of Ben’s friends, his parents get divorced. This happens to many people my age.
I enjoyed this book because the author did a good job of making it so you can picture the events in the story. He uses descriptive language.. I think people who enjoy contemporary realistic fiction will like the book Heavy Hitters, because it is more realistic so you can picture it more. Children and adults of all ages would like read Heavy Hitters because it is so real. or baseball lovers this is a great book. So if you are looking for a great book pick up and read, Heavy Hitters.

[Logan Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben McBain is the star of the team in his town. Facing off against their rivals for the championship, but it all starts at the beginning. Ben, the star player on his baseball team, gets nervous early on in the season after being hit by a pitch. He struggles to get back to his old self, but when his teammate Justin comes along to help him during his own struggles, he gets back on track. now, the roles have flipped and Ben needs to find a way to help out his friend, he is devastated after his parents get a divorce and his mom is moving away and he has to go with her. Will Ben get his Justin to come back to the team, and bring a championship home? It is a very well written book in the sports genre. It is very easy to understand and does not have unnecessary filler information, just the important stuff only in the book. It is an 8th grade difficulty/language level and very easy to understand. I enjoyed the ending and the climax. This would appeal to anybody who likes sports or sports books.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book I enjoyed reading it. Here is what it's about. Ben and his friends, the Core Four Plus One, are so excited to play in their town's All-Star Baseball league. But in the first game of the season Ben gets hit by a pitch. It's never happened to him before and it shakes him up.

Another player on Ben's team, Justin, is acting really weirdly. Ben's known Justin for a while and they're friendly but he's not one of Ben's closest friends. Justin is the team's best hitter but his behavior on and off the field is different. Ben discovers that Justin's parents are getting a divorce and Justin is thinking about quitting the team. Like good teammates do, Justin helps Ben deal with his issues at bat while Ben is there for his friend while his family is struggling.

I enjoyed this book because it was easy to understand and wasn't too confusing. I would recommend this to anyone that likes a good sports story.

[Nathan Lapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben McBain is a strong, funny, smart kid and never backs down from a challenge. With being the coaches son, you are expected to be one of the best on your team, but something goes wrong, it can be a disaster. The pitch got away from him, not enough time to react, the ball catches him square in the arm. The bat hit the ground and Ben went down. Ben wasn’t the only one that had a problem. He noticed that something was wrong with the team’s best hitter, Justin and he would do anything to help out his teammate.

Game Changers:Heavy Hitters is an outstanding book of excitement. You don’t know what is going to happen next. I nearly felt what it was like when Ben got hit by that ball. I felt his pain and difficulty, but somehow, Mike Lupica finds a way to make the book entertaining and fun to read.

Game Changers:Heavy Hitters is exciting and is fun with entertainment. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball or anyone who likes stories that has a surprising ending.

[William B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book Game Changers: Heavy Hitters by Mike Lupica. The setting is Ben's House and baseball field's. The main characters are Ben and Justin. I found this book with all the other Mike Lupica books.
Ben is 11 and he is brave and very smart. Ben has a problem when he plays baseball, he is scared with of the ball when the pitcher throws the ball. Justin is also 11 and he helps Ben from flinching when he gets suspended for a couple games. Justin has a hard life his parents gets divorced and he has to move. Ben gets to where he don't flinch and him and Justin lead their team to the middle school finals.
My response is Heavy Hitters is a good book and it ended good and my favorite part is when Justin helps Ben out playing baseball to get ready for finals.
My opinion is that its good and similar books are Summer Ball and QB1 both by Mike Lupica. People will like this book if they like baseball.

[Carter Helfrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book game changers #3 by Mike Lupica. In the book game changers one of the characters Justin had to go through some tough times and life lessons and did not know what to do. When his team started to realize that he was looking depressed sad/mad they decided to do something. The first person to notice was the main character Ben Mcbain who tried to help and in return Justin would help him with his hitting.

Some of the characters are Ben Mcbain, Sam, Justin, Lilly, and Sean. In the book it is baseball season and all them made the all star team. They had to have a good enough record to make it to the championship and if they win they go to state.

I enjoyed game changers because it is about baseball, and I like reading stories I can relate too. I would recommend this book if you like sports because it is interesting, funny, and all around a good book.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hit by Lupica!

Ben McBain continues to help his friends and gets some much needed help from a new good friend!

In this book, it’s baseball season!

Something happens to Ben that’s never happened before – and it scares him. He ends up needing help from an unlikely teammate to get over his new fear.

By accepting this friend’s help, he is able to give this friend some support – because this friend has a secret that makes him want to quit the baseball team – yikes!

The big question is – who will win the championship??

[Parker Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book. If you like sports books this is a good book for you. It is about 4 11 year old friends on a all star baseball team.One of there team mates Justin is having a rough time because he just learned that his parents are getting a divorce and moving. Ben and his friends need to help Justin through baseball. Ben also has a problem because he got hit with a baseball now he is afraid at the plate. Justin helps Ben to stop being afraid at the plate.

[Zakk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of every, kind of sports book you would love to read just the title hooks you and when you get to the middle slightly you know what this is all about.

I Recomend this book
Zakk Payer.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben and his best friends are excited to spend the summer playing on an all-star baseball team. The summer doesn't go quite as smoothly as he had hoped. A few injuries sideline him for a few games. Also, his teammate Justin is not acting like himself and that is really bothering Ben. This is a great book about friendship and learning how to be good teammates.